And now, budding actor Corey Bearman-Worthington (11) has become a voice-over artist for a Disney cartoon – following in the footsteps of Hollywood luminaries such as Tom Hanks, who lent his dulcet tones to the character of Woody in Disney film Toy Story.

What makes his achievement even more impressive is that Corey, of Fulbridge Road, Werrington, Peterborough, has cystic fibrosis (CF) – a cruel condition which often leaves him struggling for breath and unable to digest food, and could take his life before he is 30.

But he is determined not to let it stop him pursuing his dreams.

Corey, who is a member of a drama club, got a call from his agent telling him about the Disney audition.

His mum Kim travelled with him to London, where he wowed judges with his bubbly personality.

He was picked to record the voice-over for a character called Jamie, who will appear in six mini cartoons made for the Disney TV channel – and are due to hit the screen in about a week.

Proud gran Jan Bearman-Brown said he had a natural flair for acting.

She said: "He was the artful dodger in Oliver at the Key Theatre, he was in the background in EastEnders and he played a naughty boy who had to sit outside the headmaster's office in Thieves Like Us.

"He got a call from his agent to go for an audition for Disney TV. He was successful and did a recording.

"Then they called him back and asked him to record the rest.

"But he is also a race car fan, and I think he wants to go into engineering.

"Acting is something he's good at and he enjoys it, but he is down-to-earth for an 11-year-old and knows it's not an easy profession."

She said he amazed her with his mature attitude.

"He takes his condition in his stride," she said. "He doesn't make any fuss. People ask, 'what's it like to have CF' and he says 'what's it like not to have it'."